Well-Known Member

Senior Member

Any tips for playing blues scale (g) for alto please.
I know to go from g to c# as this is the "devil chord".....not really sure why.
Any specific patterns or licks that are used specifically in blues?
(sorry, I realise this maybe asking an obvious question), but I do enjoy playing the blues.
Just wanted few tips please. Thanks as always.....

Sax-Mad fiend!

For any note centre, the blues scale is formed by taking the minor pentatonic and adding the lowered 5th note.
So in G, you would need G Bb C D F, then add Db as the lowered 5th, making :
G Bb C Db D F.

You are right, that touching on that lowered 5th (Db) will make anything you play sound more blues-y, after that I would suggest play around and see what you like, but I'm sure others will have more useful advice.

Senior Member

Hi Mark, just listening to your track as I write this, really enjoying it. Given me hope to give this tune a go and get some feedback from yourself and others. Been a busy few days with work etc and lessons etc....but cool version.

New Member

Senior Member

Right that is it........I have written out all 12 major scales, circled the fifth to work out my 2-5-1's, I am now off until Wednesday. I am gonna post my blues tune over the weekend.
I mean business, this is now serious...........(queue Celion Dionne song "this is getting serious").......then feel sick, then play the blues.......

Well Known

@Gareth WG bottom line is you can't do what you want to direct into 'SoundCloud'.

Most guys round here have a minimum of a USB mic and a DigitalAudioWorkstation, DAW for short and a pair of headphones.

Import the backing track mp3 that normally comes with most of the playing based threads round here.
Plug in the headphones, make sure the DAW can find your mic, press record then play along with the backing recording the sax part on a separate track.

Quite a few USB mic's for less than £40 and a few free DAW's if you search. As for headphones anything from ear-bud type to in your face studio ones will work.

Senior Member

Thanks Chris, brain already melting with scales and circle of fifths and trying to look for 2-5-1 progression......now "technology" as well?
All jokes aside, thank you for your reply, i just text my friend to help. Really want to post some tune, that way i can get some feed back of what i am doing wrong!